International Candidates
As society has moved in to the new millenium, a globalized approach has become the standard in accounting and other financial fields. With the advent of the Internet, conducting business internationally is commonplace. Companies have branches in various countries, products are being used by various cultures and views are changing to fit the new "big picture." With businesses thinking of the global picture, employees need to make themselves as globally attractive as possible. One such way to reach this goal is to obtain the U.S. CPA designation.
Why should I become a CPA in the United States?
Not only is the designation attractive on a resume, but having increased knowledge of U.S. accounting principles is a plus. You will have additional marketability and international mobility when applying for various jobs that may give you the added advantage to landing the job. The U.S. CPA designation shows how diverse your understanding of the accounting fields is.
Why should I use a review for the U.S. CPA Exam?
PassMatrix recommends you take a review course to become familiar with the content, how the Exam is administered, to learn the terminology of the Exam and determine what information you need to know to prepare for the Exam. Being prepared is the first step to passing the CPA Exam and ExamMatrix will help you take that step.
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How do I apply for the Exam?
You cannot take the U.S. CPA Exam anywhere other than the U.S. Contact the State Board of Accountancy or the organization that administers the CPA Exam to determine the requirements for the state in which you plan to sit. Click on state specific information for vital contact information. Applying for more than one state is advisable.
Note: If you have an additional local designation, some states will allow you to sit without providing the additional educational proof.
Some states will enable you to download the information. When speaking to the State Boards, be sure to:
- Request a copy of the Regulation booklet and application.
- Determine which Education Evaluation Service is recognized by that particular state. (Each foreign candidate must have his/her education equated to the U.S. system in order to determine eligibility).
- Contact the service immediately. It is important your evaluation be processed as soon as possible to determine if you need to meet additional requirements.
- Processing will take approximately 3-5 weeks.
- Submit a transcript for evaluation.
- Submit an application to the State Board/CPA Examination Services.
- Give yourself plenty of time to meet the deadline for the state in which you are planning to sit.
- Apply for a visa to the United States no later than three months before the Exam. Admissions slips are mailed 2-3 weeks prior to the Exam. If you are denied or there is a discrepancy, you will hear as soon as your application is processed. Be sure to verify your eligibility before you make travel plans.
How much does the CPA Examination cost?
Costs vary from state to state, but range from $575-$800 to take all four sections.
In what states do foreign candidates qualify?
Will I be taking the same Exam as those candidates in the United States?
Yes, you will be taking the exact same Exam. The Exam is uniform throughout the United States.
What schooling should I have prior to the Exam?
Most states require 60 to 120 hours (2 - 4 years) of schooling at the university level. You do not need to have a degree to sit for the Exam. Check the state specific information to see how many hours are needed to sit in the state in which you are interested in taking the Exam.
Do I need work experience in the accounting field to be able to sit for the Exam?
No, you do not need to have any experience prior to sitting for the Exam. You may sit for the Exam while you are still a student, provided you have met the initial education requirements (see the question and answer above). You do not need to have worked an internship either as some other countries require. Nor do foreign candidates need to be employed to sit for the Exam. However, experience will probably be required after you have passed the Exam in order to receive your license. This experience may take the form of foreign experience, accounting experience in industry or public experience.
Is the CPA Exam only given in English?
Yes, the Exam is only administered in English.
Tell me more about the CPA Exam.
Visit exam information to learn details about the CPA Exam. Please be aware that some states allow you to proctor, meaning you can physically sit in a state which is different than the one in which you will be accepted.
Click here for the complete, detailed Uniform CPA Examination's Candidate Bulletin.
Evaluation Services Information
Foreign Academic Credentials Service, Inc.(FACS) P.O. Box 400 Glen Carbon, IL 62034 Tel: (618) 288-1661 States Accepted: Most states including Washington, Maryland, Colorado, Montana. Not accepted in New York, New Jersey, Texas, Arizona or Illinois. Delaware only accepts evaluations from FACS, Inc.
Academic Credentials Evaluations Institute,Inc. P.O. Box 6908, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, U.S.A. Tel: (800) 234-1597 Fax: (310) 275-3528 States Accepted: Most states
International Education Research Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 66940 Los Angeles, CA 90066 Tel: (310) 390-6276 Fax: (310) 397-7686 States Accepted: Most states
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. P.O. Box 92970 Milwaukee, WI 53202-0970 Tel: (414) 289-3400 Fax: (414) 289-3411 Web Site: http://www.ece.org States Accepted: Most states
NOTE: Find out from the State Board in which you plan to sit which evaluation service they recognize.